Stepping out, and back in

Bye-bye, Simon – and hello, Paula.

As Simon Cowell prepares to exit “American Idol” following tonight’s season finale, former “Idol” judge Paula Abdul is returning to reality television.

Abdul will be a judge on “Got to Dance,” a CBS series expected to air sometime next season.

She’ll also be an executive producer for the show, based on a successful competition that airs in Britain.

Cowell – who had a love-hate relationship with Abdul during their time on “Idol” – is leaving to focus on his own import, “The X Factor, ” which he launched in England in 2004 and is bringing to Fox next fall.

Sorry, Lindsay, no can do

Lindsay Lohan lost a bid to ease up on her drug and alcohol testing so she can make a movie in Texas.

A judge Monday ordered Lohan, who’s on probation for drug- and driving-related offenses, to wear an alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet at least until July.

An arrest warrant was briefly issued for the 23-year-old actress after she missed a hearing last week while at the Cannes Film Festival, where she was photographed partying.

He’s on a real tear

A Connecticut judge has dismissed a drunken-driving charge against Rip Torn after the actor completed an alcohol education program.

But Torn, 79, faces charges for breaking into a bank in January while intoxicated and armed.

The birthday bunch

Actor James Arness is 87. Sportscaster Brent Musburger is 71. Singer Stevie Nicks is 62. Actor Philip Michael Thomas is 61. Actress Pam Grier is 61. Country singer Hank Williams Jr. is 61. Actress Genie Francis (“General Hospital”) is 48. Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait is 48. Singer Lenny Kravitz is 46. Actress Helena Bonham Carter is 44. Actor Joseph Fiennes is 40.